Paper folding apparatus



Oct. 9, 1962 D, R. KLAUS 3,057,621

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Donald R. Klaus 1N VEN TOR.

BY /m Oct. 9, 1962 D. R. KLAUS 3,057,621

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Donald R Klaus INVENTOR.

BY 2mm Oct. 9, 1962 D. R. KLAUS 3,057,621

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 3 SheetsSheet 3 Fly-9 20 I Donald R. Klaus 1N VENTOR.

BY WWW United States Patent Ofifice Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057,621 PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS Donald R. Klaus, Rte. 3, St. Marys Church, Wakeman, Ohio Filed Nov. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 70,363 7 Claims. (Cl. 270-68) The present invention relates to novel apparatus for folding paper.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide apparatus which will fold individual sheets of paper from a stack of sheets of paper loaded thereinto in a more efficient, positive and reliable manner than was heretofore possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper folding apparatus which produces both a primary fold on each sheet of paper and by selective positioning thereof may produce different types of secondary folds.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a paper folding apparatus which is more reliably operative to receive successive sheets of paper for folding thereof by virtue of a novel relationship between a feeding set of rollers and a final folding set of rollers with the feeding rollers being automatically disconnected from their drive when the folded sheet of paper passing therethrough is engaged by the final folding rollers, the drive connection being restored to the feeding rollers when the folded sheet of paper is completely withdrawn therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a selectively positioned secondary fold producing mechanism cooperating with the final primary folding mechanism so as to form either double type of secondary folds on the sheet of paper or accordion type of secondary folds.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the paper folding apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, illustrating the apparatus with the secondary folding mechanism in one selected position for producing an accordion type of secondary folds.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 2 but illustrating the secondary folding mechanism in another selected position for producing a double type secondary fold.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIG- URE ,1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial topplan view showing a different form of clutch mechanism from that illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a folded sheet of paper with an accordion type secondary fold as produced in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a folded sheet of paper with a double type secondary fold produced in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a partial perspective view of a single fold sheet of folded paper.

Referring now to the drawings in detail attention is first invited to the illustration in FIGURE 2 wherein the paper folding apparatus is generally referred to by reference numeral 10. It will be understood that the apparatus .10 may be mounted on a frame 12 of a larger paper handling machine with which it may be associated. Accordingly, the machine includes a pair of delivery chutes 14 and 16 into which the folded paper is delivered. The accordion type of folded paper is delivered to delivery chute 1 4 whereas the double type of folded paper is delivered to the delivery chute 16 as shown by dotted line in FIGURE 3. FIGURE 2 shows in dotted line an accordion type of folded paper 18 being delivered to chute 14 which folded sheet of paper is more clearly shown in FIGURE 8. The double folded sheet of paper 20 as shown being delivered in FIGURE 3 is more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 9. It will also be observed that the folding apparatus is supplied with a stack of unfolded sheets of paper, which is disposed within a hopper loading portion 24 of the apparatus. The apparatus 10 also includes initial folding and feeding mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 26 which is disposed below the stack of papers 22 and in contact therewith. Also mounted on the machine frame 12 and disposed below the feeding mechanism 26 is the final primary folding mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 28. Selectively positioned below the final primary folding mechanism 28 is a secondary folding mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 30. It will be apparent from FIG- URES 2 and 3 that the bottom sheet of paper in the stack of papers 22 will be received by the feeding mechanism 26 and passed therethrough into engagement with the final primary folding mechanism 28, which primary folding mechanism 28 cooperates with the secondary folding mechanism 30 to form the secondary fold and deliver the completely folded sheet of paper 18 or 20 into the delivery chute 14 or 16.

The feeding mechanism 26 includes a pair of folding rollers 32 and 34 which are in frictional contact with each other and rotatable in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in FIGURES 2 and 3. It will be noted that the rollers are rotatably mounted in the frame 12 on axes which are fixed and disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other. It will also be noted that the bottom sheet of paper in the stack of papers 22 is in contact with the outer surface of both rollers 32 and 34 so that it may be engaged thereby for forming a loop in the paper and feeding the loop between the rollers. The initially folded paper is therefore fed downwardly be tween the rollers until it is engaged between a pair of rollers 36 and 38 of the final primary folding mechanism 28. From FIGURES 1 and 3, it will be observed that each of the rollers is formed of a central shaft portion. The roller shafts 40, 42, 44 and 46 accordingly have mounted thereon resilient material such as rubber. It will be observed from FIGURES 1 and 3 in particular, that the resilient material 48 has a corrugated external surface and is made of softer material than the harder smooth surfaced resilient material of which the rollers 34, 36 and 38 are made. It will become apparent that the feeding mechanism 26 including the corrugated surface roller 32 while effective to more readily grip the paper in contact therewith for feeding thereof through the feeding mechanism 26 will not be capable of producing the sharp fine fold or crease that is desired by virtue of the softness or pliable nature of the material 48 of the feed roller 32. Accordingly, the final primary folding mechanism 28 by virtue of the harder material of which the rollers 36 and 38 are made, will produce the sharp, fine crease in the paper initially formed by the feed mechanism 26.

It will be recalled, that the pairs of rollers of each of the mechanism 26 and 28 are rotated in opposite direc- D tions with those rollers vertically aligned with respect to each other being rotated in the same direction so that the paper folding may properly proceed between the mechanisms 26 and 28. Accordingly, a drive gear member 50 is rotatably mounted in the frame 12 and fixed to shaft 52 to which rotation may be imparted by any suitable source of power.

The gear member 50 meshes with pinion gears 54 and 56 operatively connected to rollers 34 and 38 respectively, which pinion gears 54 and 56 are disposed at one axial end of the rollers with which they are associated. Ac cordingly, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the pinion gears 54 and 56 are driven simultaneously in a clockwise direction by the gear member in order to impart clockwise rotation to both rollers 34 and 38. As hereinbefore indicated, the rollers 32 and 36 respectively associated with rollers 34 and 38 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, as more clearly seen from FIGURES 1 and 4, intermeshing pinion gears 58 and 60 are connected respectively to the shaft portions 40 and 42 of the rollers 32 and 34 in order to effect the indicated directions of rotation. Similarly, pinion gears 62 and 64 are connected to roller shafts 44 and 46 of the rollers 36 and 38 for effecting opposite directions of rotation thereof. It will, however, be noted that the gear 50 which meshes with the pinion gears 54 and 56 for imparting drive to the feeding mechanism 26 and final primary folding mechanism 28 will rotate the mechanism 28 at a slightly higher speed than that of the mechanism 26 inasmuch as the number of teeth on the pinion gear 56 is less than the number of teeth on the pinion gear 54. Accordingly, when the sheet of paper is engaged between the rollers 36 and 38 of the mechanism 28 and has not as yet been withdrawn from between the rollers 32 and 34 of the mechanism 26, provision must be made enabling the rollers 32 and 34 of the mechanism 26 to be rotationally displaced with respect to the pinion gear 54 which otherwise drives the feeding mechanism 26. Accordingly, a clutch mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 66 is operatively disposed between the pinion gear 54 and the roller 34 for accommodating the necessary relative rotational movement that will be effected between the rollers 32 and 34 of the feed mechanism 26 and the pinion gear 54. Referring therefore to FIGURES 1 and in particular, it will be observed that the clutch mechanism 66 includes a hub sleeve 68 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 42 of the roller 34. One end 70 of a coil spring 72 is fixed to the hub 68 by means of a fastener element 74 while the other end 76 of the coil spring 72 is engaged by a projecting pin 78 fixed to the shaft portion 42 at that end thereof projecting beyond the resilient roller portion of the roller 34. It will also be observed that the hub sleeve 68 has fixed thereto an axially projecting pin 80 with a resilient bumper element 82 mounted thereon. Accordingly, when the roller 34 is driven faster than the gear 54 by virtue of the engagement of the sheet of paper by the faster rotating rollers of the mechanism 28 before the paper is withdrawn from the feeding mechanism 26, relative rotation between the roller shaft 42 and the gear 54 will be compensated for by the coil spring 72 being disengaged from the pin 78 on the roller shaft 42. When the roller 34 is not being driven by the paper pulled therefrom by the mechanism 28, the gear 54 tending to rotate faster than the roller shaft 42 will cause the spring coil end 76 to engage the pin 78 on the roller shaft 42 and drive the roller through the coil spring 72. It will also be apparent that after the roller 34 is released upon complete withdrawal of the paper from the mechanism 26, there will be a certain amount of rotational movement between the pinion gear 54 and the roller shaft 42 before the coil spring end 76 engages the projecting pin 78 on the roller shaft 42. Accordingly, the shock load will cause the gear 54 to be rotationally displaced with respect to the roller shaft 42 beyond the 4 position illustrated in FIGURE 1 for which reason the shock absorbing bumper element 82 is provided in order to positively limit such relative rotation when the bumper element 82 contacts the projection 78 on the roller shaft 42.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the feeding mechanism 26 ordinarily or initially driven by the gear 54 will be automatically released therefrom when it is caused to rotate relative thereto by the faster rotating mechanism 28 operating through the folded sheet of paper which extends between the mechanisms 26 and 28. As a result thereof the mechanism 26 will not be power driven by the gear 50 so that the paper may be pulled therethrough and finally folded by the mechanism 28 in a more positive manner. Accordingly, the paper will under no circumstances be wrinkled and improperly fed through the mechanism.

It will be observed that the stack of papers 22 is loaded into the hopper device 24 which includes a downwardly angled bottom portion 84. Accordingly, the stack of paper 22 is properly conditioned for reception by the feeding mechanism 26. In connection with the above, the pressure applying roller device 86 is provided and slidably mounted within the frame 12 and is disposed in offset relation with respect to the mechanism 26 and more particularly disposed above the roller 32. Accordingly, the bottom sheet of unfolded paper will be placed in pressure feeding contact with the more pliable corrugated surface 48 for reliably feeding paper through the feeding mechanism 26. As heretofore indlcated, the mechanism 26 will be power driven to feed the paper and initially fold it until it is engaged by the final primary folding mechanism 28 at which time the power drive to the feeding mechanism 26 will be disengaged by the aforementioned operation of the clutch mechanism 66.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, another form of clutch mechanism is illustrated. In this latter form of clutch mechanism, the pinion gear 54 has a hub 88 which is rotatable with respect to the roller shaft 42. A multi-coil spring 90 is provided on the shaft 42 between the end of the roller 34 and thehub 88 with the ends of the coil spring 90 being respectively anchored within the hub 88 and the roller 34. Accordingly, when the roller 34 is rotated in one direction relative to the pinion gear 54 and hub 88 thereof, the coil spring 90 will be expanded in order to accommodate relative rotation. However, when the gear 54 tends to rotate relative to the roller 34, the coil spring 90 will be contracted to eventually render a rigid drive connection between the gear 54 and the roller 34. In connection with the above, it will be understood that other suitable and equivalent forms of one-way drive mechanisms may be utilized in place of the mechanism 66 in order to perform the indicated function thereof.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be observed that the secondary folding mechanism 30 includes a casing member 92 which is pivotally mounted on a fixed axis by means of pin 94 for selective positioning thereof between the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. Rotatably mounted at the upper end of the mechanism 30 is a secondary folding roller 96 which frictionally engages either the roller 36 or the roller 38. The secondary folding roller 96 is rotatably mounted by a member 98 disposed within the casing member 92 'and slidable with respect thereto against the bias of spring element 100. It will be observed also, that compartment spaces 102 and 104 are formed between the walls of the facing member 92 and the inner member 98 on both sides thereof. The bottoms of the compartments 102 and 104 are defined by a bottom member 106, the position of which may be varied by means of the adjustable screw mechanism 108. Accordingly, a folded end portion of the paper in which the primary fold has been made may be fed into the compartment 102 for example as shown in FIGURE 2 from the final folding mechanism 28. The depth of the compartment will be appropriately predetermined by the mechanism 108 for properly accommodating the folded end of the paper. Continued feeding of the sheet of paper through the mechanism 28 will form a loop therein which will be fed between the roller 38 of the mechanism 28 and the secondary folding roller 96 whereby an accordion type secondary fold will be produced as the paper is fed between the rollers 38 and 96 and delivered through the delivery chute 14 as seen in 'FIGURE 2. When the mechanism 30 however, is angularly positioned as shown in FIGURE 3 with the roller 96 in contact with the roller 36 a similar action occurs with the folded bottom half of the sheet of paper being first fed into the compartment 104 and subsequently pulled between the rollers 36 and 96 for forming a double fold type of secondary fold with the paper then being withdrawn from the compartment 106 and delivered into the delivery chute 16. It should also be understood that the mechanism 3i? may be withdrawn from contact with the primary folding mechanism 28 in which case a single fold sheet of paper will be produced as shown in FIGURE From the foregoing, operation and utility of the type of folding apparatus "of this invention will be apparent. It will be appreciated that as a result of the difference in the drive ratio between the gear 50 and the pinion drive gears for the feeding mechanism 26 and the final folding mechanism 28, the one-way drive mechanism 66 is rendered effective to discontinue drive to the mechanism 26 when the folded paper is engaged by the mech anism 28 and until the paper is completely Withdrawn from the mechanism 26 at which time power drive to the mechanism 26 will be restored enabling the reception therein and feeding thereof of a following sheet of paper. Also, the selectively positioned secondary folding mechanism 30 cooperates with the final primary folding mechanism 28 to produce difierent types of secondary folds with the different type of folded papers being automatically sorted by virtue of the delivery thereof into different delivery chutes. It will be understood that various types of other mechanisms may be associated with the feeding apparatus of this invention for enhancing and cooperating with the operations thereof. For eX- ample, automatic oscillating mechanism may be operatively connected to the mechanism 30 so that accordion type folded paper and double folded paper will be alternatively delivered to the chutes 14 and 16. Also, a predetermined number of accordion folded sheets 18 may be delivered to chute 14 and then the mechanism 30 will be automatically repositioned to deliver another predetermined number of double folded type of paper.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a paper sheet folding machine, the combination of a pair of coacting feed rollers adapted to buckle a paper sheet therebetween, a pair of coacting folding rollers adapted to receive a buckled sheet from said feed rollers and to crease the same along a first fold line with one folded side of the sheet being wider than the other, means for driving said feed rollers and said folding rollers, a carrier movably mounted adjacent said folding rollers, a third folding roller supported by said carrier and engageable selectively with one or the other of the rollers in the pair of folding rollers, and a pair of selectively usable sheet receiving pockets provided in said carrier at opposite sides of said third folding roller, whereby to selectively receive a sheet folded along the first fold line and fold the wide side of the sheet selectively upon itself or upon the relatively narrow side of the sheet, depending upon the position of said movable carrier to support said third folding roller in engagement with one or the other of said pair of folding rollers.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means provided on said carrier for adjusting the depth of said pockets.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said feed rollers and said folding rollers include clutch means for disengaging the drive to the feed rollers While a sheet is being folded by said pair of folding rollers.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said feed rollers and said folding rollers include a rotatable drive element disposed coaxially at one end of one of said feed rollers, and clutch means for drivingly disengaging said one feed roller from said drive element while a sheet is being folded by said pair of folding rollers, said clutch means including a resilient coillike member having one end thereof anchored to said drive element, a hook provided at the other end of said coil-like member, and a projecting pin provided on said one feed roller, said pin being drivingly engageable by and disengageable from said hook.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said feed rollers and said folding rollers include a rotatable drive element disposed coaxially at one end of one of said feed rollers, and clutch means for drivingly disengaging said one feed roller from said drive element while a sheet is being folded by said pair of folding rollers, said clutch means comprising a coil spring having one end thereof anchored to said drive element and its other end anchored to said one feed roller.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means rockably and slidably mounting said carrier for movement toward and away from said pair of folding rollers and movement from either roller to the other.

7. The device as defined in claim 5 together with resilient means biasing said carrier toward the folding rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,512 Dick July 31, 1906 1,196,697 'Julyan Aug. 29, 1916 1,834,564 Winkler et al. Dec. 1, 1931 1,834,568 Winkler et a1. Dec. 1, 1931 2,080,505 Rader et al May 18, 1937 

